Turner Chasing Classic Success With Winklee River

KAROOLA conditioner Dennis Turner is hoping Winklee River will highlight his potential when the pup steps out in Thursday night's Ladbrokes sponsored Tasmanian Breeders Classic Final (461m) at Hobart.

The promising sprinter, which has six starts to his name, is still learning his craft and meets the biggest task of his career in the $5050-to-the-winner finale for locally bred chasers.

"He took some time to get going but he's going well now," Turner said.

"He started coming out better from the the boxes when we came back from the (COVID-19) break and has improved from there.

"He really surprised me when he ran 25.49 at Devonport (on July 7) over the 452 metres.

"I thought I must have forgotten to take the lead off and it got rapped around him and dragged him around after running that time as a pup!"

That stellar Devonport performance set the platform for Winklee River to book his spot in Thursday's Breeders Classic decider.

The son of Melbourne Cup winner Ando's Mac (ex-Winklee Terrior) was able to secure his passage into the final at his next start, finishing runner-up to the classy Siberia in last week's qualifiers.

Turner's young gun was overrun late, going down by a half-length with the winner clocking a competitive 26.29.

"He just missed the kick a little bit last week and was back nearly second last early before he got a good run through," Turner said.

"He hit the front but the other dog Siberia just finished a bit too strong.

"Had he jumped a little better he could have won but Siberia finished the better … but he's a good dog.”

Siberia, a winner of four of his eight starts, has drawn box eight in the decider and boasts a career mark of 26.09 at the track.

Winklee River has drawn more favourably in box three.

"I've drawn a bit better so he should be able to begin and get to the front," Turner said.

"His brother goes alright too, the outside dog Winklee Hugo, he will come out like a rocket.

"He is fast early and I thought (Winklee Hugo) might chop the others off on the outside of us from seven.

"But I have to say, we have to begin."

The Ted Medhurst-trained Raleigh will carry the red rug after an impressive heat win on debut, clocking a slick 26.18 at her first look at the track.

Vintage Fame, conditioned by David Crosswell, sealed his passage when winning his heat in the same time as Raleigh but will need to find a way from box four in the final.

The Ladbrokes Tasmanian Breeders Classic Final (461m) jumps at 9.30pm.